Magrolimab in Combination With Azacitidine in Patients With Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Final Results of a Phase Ib Study.

Purpose: Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks cluster of differentiation 47, a don't-eat-me signal overexpressed on cancer cells. Cluster of differentiation 47 blockade by magrolimab promotes macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells and is synergistic with azacitidine, which increases expression of eat-me signals. We report final phase Ib data in patients with untreated higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with magrolimab and azacitidine (ClinicalTrials.

Poorer Clinical Outcomes for Black Patients with AML: A Wake-Up Call for Better Data and Greater Understanding of Cancer Outcomes in All Ethnic Groups.

In this issue of , Bhatnagar and colleagues show that Black patients in the United States with acute myeloid leukemia have a shorter survival compared with white patients. This is an important paper as it addresses an under researched issue: the complex interaction of race, tumor genetics, socioeconomic factors, and access to treatment in defining treatment outcomes for a devastating cancer..

The emergence of regenerative medicine in organ transplantation: 1st European Cell Therapy and Organ Regeneration Section meeting.

Regenerative medicine is emerging as a novel field in organ transplantation. In September 2019, the European Cell Therapy and Organ Regeneration Section (ECTORS) of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) held its first meeting to discuss the state-of-the-art of regenerative medicine in organ transplantation. The present article highlights the key areas of interest and major advances in this multidisciplinary field in organ regeneration and discusses its implications for the future of organ transplantation.

Interpreting pleural fluid results .

Interpreting pleural fluid results correctly requires an awareness of the possible aetiologies of a pleural effusion and an understanding of the reliability of the outcome of each investigation. All results must be interpreted within each different clinical context and knowledge of the pitfalls for each test is necessary when the diagnosis is unclear. This review aims to discuss the common aetiologies of a pleural effusion and some of the pitfalls in interpretation that can occur when the diagnosis is unclear.

Correction: High expression of HMGA2 independently predicts poor clinical outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia.

Since the publication of the original article the authors noticed the the affiliation details for Paresh Vyas are incorrect. The correct affiliation details for this author are given below.

Case finding and therapy for chronic viral hepatitis in primary care (HepFREE): a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: The prevalence of viral hepatitis (hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus) in migrants is higher than among the general population in many high-income countries. We aimed to determine whether incentivising and supporting primary-care physicians in areas with a high density of migrants increases the numbers of adult migrants screened for viral hepatitis.

Methods: HepFREE was a multicentre, open, cluster-randomised controlled trial in general practices in areas of the UK with a high density of migrants (Bradford, Yorkshire, and northeast and southeast London).

The history of the formation of the Pan African paediatric surgical Association (PAPSA).

Political change in the 1990s in Southern Africa influenced the long awaited formation of a children's surgical association in Africa. Here, within is the historical account of the formation of the Pan African Association of Paediatric Surgeons (PAPSA). The basis of the argument for the formation of PAPSA was that paediatric surgeons from Africa have a wealth of experience and special knowledge of diseases affecting children in the African continent which differ substantially from those encountered in other regions of the world.

The Benefits of Hypothermic Machine Preservation and Short Cold Ischemia Times in Deceased Donor Kidneys.

Background: Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) of deceased donor kidneys is associated with better outcome when compared to static cold storage (CS). Nevertheless, there is little evidence whether kidneys with short cold ischemia time (CIT) also benefit from HMP and whether HMP can safely extend CIT.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data from the Machine Preservation Trial, an international randomized controlled trial.

Preserving and perfusing the allograft pancreas: Past, present, and future.

The concept of organ preservation by perfusion dates back to the mid-19th century. Innovations since then have included temperature regulation, perfusion fluid composition and various pumping systems. Advances made in liver, heart and kidney machine preservation are now contributing to increased graft utilisation, assessment of graft viability and potentially improved graft survival.

Phase II study of buparlisib (BKM120) and trastuzumab in patients with HER2+ locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer resistant to trastuzumab-based therapy.

Purpose: A Phase Ib study in patients with trastuzumab-resistant, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2- (HER2)-positive advanced breast cancer defined the recommended Phase II dose of buparlisib as 100 mg/day in combination with 2 mg/kg weekly trastuzumab, and reported preliminary signs of clinical activity. Here we present results from the Phase II portion.

Methods: Patients with trastuzumab-resistant, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer received buparlisib plus trastuzumab.

Emerging roles of innate lymphoid cells in inflammatory diseases: Clinical implications.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) represent a group of lymphocytes that lack specific antigen receptors and are relatively rare as compared to adaptive lymphocytes. ILCs play important roles in allergic and nonallergic inflammatory diseases due to their location at barrier surfaces within the airways, gut, and skin, and they respond to cytokines produced by activated cells in their local environment. Innate lymphoid cells contribute to the immune response by the release of cytokines and other mediators, forming a link between innate and adaptive immunity.

Significance of steatosis in pancreatic transplantation.

The on-going success of whole organ pancreatic transplantation is dependent on overcoming the imbalance between demand and supply of optimal organs as well as tackling the vast comorbidity associated with the procedure. Pancreas steatosis is a common contributing factor to the problem and with obesity pandemics affecting the global population; the size and type of organs received from donors will only make steatosis more of an issue. The aim of this review is to highlight what is known about steatosis in the context of pancreas transplantation identifying potential methods to help its evaluation.

Outcome of Azacitidine Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Is not Improved by Concurrent Vorinostat Therapy but Is Predicted by a Diagnostic Molecular Signature.

Azacitidine (AZA) is a novel therapeutic option in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but its rational utilization is compromised by the fact that neither the determinants of clinical response nor its mechanism of action are defined. Co-administration of histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as vorinostat (VOR), is reported to improve the clinical activity of AZA, but this has not been prospectively studied in patients with AML. We compared outcomes in 259 adults with AML ( = 217) and MDS ( = 42) randomized to receive either AZA monotherapy (75 mg/m × 7 days every 28 days) or AZA combined with VOR 300 mg twice a day on days 3 to 9 orally.

Helminths in organ transplantation.

With transplantation becoming an increasingly routine form of treatment for diverse populations, and with international travel becoming ever more accessible and affordable, the danger of transplantation-mediated helminth infections, exacerbated by coincident immunosuppression, must be considered. In this Review, we attempt to catalogue all clinically-relevant helminthiases that have been reported to coincide with transplantation, whether by transplantation-mediated transmission, reactivation of latent infections in an immunosuppressed context, or possible de-novo infection during the immunosuppressed peritransplant period. Helminthiasis has been reported in cases of kidney, liver, bowel, pancreas, heart, lung, and stem-cell transplant, and blood transfusion.

An operational definition of primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia allowing early identification of patients who may benefit from allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Up to 30% of adults with acute myeloid leukemia fail to achieve a complete remission after induction chemotherapy - termed primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia. There is no universally agreed definition of primary refractory disease, nor have the optimal treatment modalities been defined. We studied 8907 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia, and examined outcomes in patients with refractory disease defined using differing criteria which have previously been proposed.

Alternative agents versus prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia due to chronic bone marrow failure: a network meta-analysis and systematic review.

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To compare the relative efficacy of different treatments for thrombocytopenia (artificial platelet substitutes, platelet-poor plasma, fibrinogen, rFVIIa, rFXIII, thrombopoietin mimetics, antifibrinolytic drugs or platelet transfusions) in patients with chronic bone marrow failure and to derive a hierarchy of potential alternate treatments to platelet transfusions.

The hemostatic properties of thawed pooled cryoprecipitate up to 72 hours.

Background: There is increasing interest in replacing fibrinogen early for the treatment of major hemorrhage. In countries where cryoprecipitate is the main concentrated source of fibrinogen, the thawing process complicates the timely availability of cryoprecipitate for transfusion early during major bleeding. The aim of the study was to investigate the hemostatic quality of cryoprecipitate, thawed and held at 18 to 24°C for up to 72 hours.

Pancreas Transplantation: Past, Present, Future.

Diabetes is the pandemic disease of the modern era, with 10% of these patients having type 1 diabetes mellitus. Despite the prevalence, morbidities, and associated financial burden, treatment options have not changed since the introduction of injectable insulin. To date, over 40,000 pancreas transplants have been performed globally.

Correlates of obesity-related chronic ventilatory failure.

Introduction: Only a third of obese patients develop chronic ventilatory failure. This cross-sectional study assessed multiple factors potentially associated with chronic ventilatory failure.

Materials/patients And Methods: Participants had a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2), with or without chronic ventilatory failure (awake arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide >6 kPa or base excess (BE) ≥2 mmols/L).

Assessment of Minimal Residual Disease in Standard-Risk AML.

Background: Despite the molecular heterogeneity of standard-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), treatment decisions are based on a limited number of molecular genetic markers and morphology-based assessment of remission. Sensitive detection of a leukemia-specific marker (e.g.

Quantifying the healthcare costs of treating severely bleeding major trauma patients: a national study for England.

Introduction: Severely bleeding trauma patients are a small proportion of the major trauma population but account for 40% of all trauma deaths. Healthcare resource use and costs are likely to be substantial but have not been fully quantified. Knowledge of costs is essential for developing targeted cost reduction strategies, informing health policy, and ensuring the cost-effectiveness of interventions.